Victory for Educator Diversity
Victory for Educator Diversity
Greetings,
Today, Deb and I will attend a bill signing for legislation that includes an important victory for public schools: language from the Educator Diversity Act we have long championed, which authorizes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create an alternative pathway to licensure, apart from the MTEL.
The MTEL has been an obstacle for meeting our goal of diversifying the education profession. Pilot programs during the pandemic have shown that there are other, and better, ways of identifying outstanding educators. We met yesterday with the commissioner of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to urge him and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to move quickly to make this program a reality.
MTA Solidarity Actions, Events and Other Opportunities
Social Security Fairness Act I will be in Washington, D.C. this week, among many who are encouraging the U.S. Senate to vote to approve the Social Security Fairness Act. This would repeal two laws from the early 1980s - the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset – that have unfairly harmed the retirement security of many educators. We still have time to encourage the Senate (call Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer!) to vote on this critical repeal, which the U.S. House has already approved.
Rally to Defend Immigrants and Refugees
When: Friday, Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: JFK Federal Building (Government Plaza, next to Boston City Hall)
Join the Asian American Resource Workshop and other allies to take action and demand protection for refugees and immigrants at all levels of government. Rally to demand action, push for policies that go beyond fear and punishment and offer real, tangible support for immigrants and refugees. RSVP here.
Take Action on RetirementPlus Bill
The MTA is calling on all members to contact their state legislators before the end of session on Dec. 31 and ask that they support the passage of the RetirementPlus bill (H. 2630). This bill will allow teachers hired before July 1, 2001, who did not provide a written election to participate in RetirementPlus, to have a second opportunity to do so. Take action now.
Reading & Literacy Policy Research Group
Deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 18
The MTA is organizing a policy research group of educators who have professional experience in reading and literacy. This may include classroom instruction, curriculum, assessments, tutoring, interventions and tiered systems of supports and/or special education services for preK-12 students.
We are inviting teachers, paraeducators, higher education faculty and other school staff with interest in helping to evaluate and shape policy recommendations. Please sign up to learn more.
Virtual MTA Forum Hosted by the Anti-Racism Task Force:
Decolonizing Invisibility by Indigenous People
Where: Virtual
When: Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m.
Presenter: Claudia Fox Tree
Decolonizing means making Native Americans visible and starts with incorporating essential, often overlooked, information and reframing the narrative. This presentation will bridge the gap between the land and the people, offering insights into how Indigenous knowledge and achievement have influenced language, history, industrialization and global cultures. Bring an electronic device to the webinar — we’re going to have an interactive game!
Professional Licensure (Part of the Licensure Workshop Series)
Where: Virtual
When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m.
This session will provide a crash course on the requirements to apply for a Professional license and the process of renewing a Professional license. We will cover the application requirements in ELAR, how to collect evidence for Professional Development Points (PDPs) and understand the options for the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). Time will be included to address identifying eligible activities for PDPs and how to tackle a DESE audit of a Professional license renewal.
Media and Bias (Part of the First Wednesday Retiree Speaker Series)
Where: Virtual
When: Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m.
What is propaganda? How does it differ from typical political opposition? This workshop will focus on anti-labor propaganda and describe communication strategies used to undermine union organizing and discredit unionized labor. It also will review effective pro-labor communication strategies.
ESP Conference - Propose a Workshop
Where: Wellsworth Hotel, Southbridge
When: April 5 and 6
The Education Support Professionals Committee requests proposals for two-hour workshops for the annual ESP Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Power of ESPs: Together We Are Stronger! Together We Are United!” The committee is especially interested in workshops on organizing and professional development that meet the needs of preK-12 and higher ed ESPs in their many roles. Workshop proposals are due by Jan. 5.
PreK-12 Bargaining Summit and Winter Union Skills
When: Friday, Jan. 24, (Bargaining Summit) and Saturday, Jan. 25 (Winter Union Skills)
Where: Hilton Boston Park Plaza
PreK-12 Bargaining Teams are encouraged to join the Bargaining Summit on Jan. 24, and all members are encouraged to attend the Winter Union Skills Conference the following day. This free event includes a variety of workshops related to local unions' core activities. Register now.
New Member Committee Community Forum
When: Monday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual
Join this month’s New Members Community Forum, hosted by the MTA New Members Committee. In this informal, one-hour Zoom session, we'll have time to catch up and check in. As an attendee, you will have an opportunity to share your thoughts about the year so far, troubleshoot issues that have arisen, and offer insights to your colleagues.
We hope that you'll be able to join us for the full hour, however, you are also welcome to drop in at any time between 7 and 8 p.m. This month, New Member Committee Member Taryn Fernacz will be hosting our forum.
Political Education
As we did in 2016, we went from a huge victory at the polls to despair at the election of someone who has disdain for unions and public education. We are seeing those beliefs borne out in appointments and threats about the end of the Department of Education. Listen to our own member – UMass Amherst Professor Jack Schneider – and journalist Jennifer Berkshire talk to a number of experts about the potential attacks we may face in the coming administration. It is necessary information for the battles ahead.
In solidarity,
Max and Deb